Adobe Re-Reads Linux

Just a week after Adobe updated its CS Suite (the first upgrade in more than two years), it seems the software giant has caught the bug with another news announcement.

This one seems to be a bit of a climb down/backtrack/u-turn or whatever you want to call it, because it has once again chosen to support Linux operating systems with its hugely popular Reader software.

I say climb down/backtrack/u-turn (I do enjoy writing that... just let me at a politician) because Adobe had supported the format with its 5.0 product, but then mysteriously dropped that compatibility with version 6.0 which it launched in 2003. Now it's back with an update to version 7.0.

Eugene Lee, Adobe’s Product Marketing VP for Intelligent Documents (gotta love that title), used spin-speak to confirm it had been wrong, “The rate of adoption of the Linux operating system among enterprises worldwide - especially among government and financial services organizations - is increasing," he said. “Our customers were asking for Adobe Reader 7.0 on Linux as they begin to support core enterprise applications at the desktop.”

To be fair to Adobe for a minute (we need to be), increasing Linux adoption rates have forced the hands of a number of major software developers over the last year. In fact, just last month Nero, the infamously Windows centric designer of CD and DVD burning software, showed off NeroLinux and if they can switch, anyone can.

We said it was all go at Adobe and now the firm has reached a definitive agreement to acquire browser plug in specialist Macromedia in a $3.4bn deal. It doesn't take much thought to spot the obvious symmetry between the two companies' product ranges and it goes to show Adobe means business in 2005.

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